Feeding device for retorts



Nov. 26, 1929. R. B. PARKER FEEDING DEVICE FOR RETORTS 1926 2 Sheets-Shee Filed Dec. 14

Nov. 26, 1929. R. B. PARKER 1,737,170

FEEDING DEVICE FOR RETORTS Filed Dec. 14, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1' 713061022 B.F ar/(er 4 27 H; ATTORN Yr Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD B. PARKER, OF SKANEATELES, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 SAMUEL E. DARBY TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR RETORTS Application filed December 14, 1926.

This invention relates to arrangements for feeding and removing materials from a retort.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of hopper feeding devices to supply materials to close the retorts without opening them to the atmosphere.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means for feeding materials to retorts which may be operated by fluid pressure.

Another object of the invention is the construction of feeding device having valves therein, adapted to automatically force material from theirseats as they close.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of feeding devices for retorts adapted to force the material into the retort.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device for feeding materials to a retort comprising a plurality of valve controlled hoppers constructed, so that one valve operates through the other. These and many other objects are obtained by the construction to be described hereinafter.

This invention resides substantially in the construction, combination, arrangement and relative location of parts as will be more fully indicated in the following disclosure.

Referring to the drawings in which the same reference numerals will be used in the several views to indicate the same parts, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the retort.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View of the upper portion of the retort, which taken with Figure 1 represents a complete structure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view with some parts in cross-section of the feed ing devices.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cylinder for operating one of the feeding valves; and

Figure 5 is a top plan View with parts broken away of the structure of Figure 3.

This invention relates to a retort in which carbonaceous materials may be treated to secure the volatile constituents thereof. The feeding devices have been shown in conjunction therewith, because they are particularly Serial No. 154,696.

adapted for use with a retort of this nature which must be closed to the atmosphere to secure the best results.

I am, of course, aware that this particular feeding device may be used on open as well as closed retorts, and in fact in many other places, where it is desired to feed material, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the particular use for the feeding device disclosed herein.

One particular embodiment of this apparatus employing these feeding 'devices'is shown and described in my copending applications, Serial Nos. 154,694 and 154,695 filed respectively December 14, 1926 and December 14, 1926. I

Referring to the drawings, the foundation for the retort is shown at 1, which supports the uprights 2; The grate chamber 3 is supported by the upright and has mounted therein the retort 4. A metallic casing 5 is'pro vided about the retort walls and thespace 6 therebetween may be filled with some heat resisting materials, such as sand, if desired. Supported below the grate chamber is a hopper 7 having a gate 8 covering an opening at the bottom thereof. Supported, on the top of the hopper 7 is a ring 9 in which is nested another hopper 10, having a valve 11 therein. This valve may be raised and lowered by means of the levers 12. A series of pipes 13 are mounted at the top of the hopper 10, and are used to supply quenching materials to cool the residue fed from the retort to the hopper 10. Extending across the grate chamber are the bars 14 which support the gas boxes 15 and the grate bars 16. This construction forms no part of this invention as it has been fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 154,698, filed December 14, 1926.

The element 17 is a cutter bar which moves over the surface of the grate as described in my copending applications. The short pipes 16 connect the gas boxes 15 to the main pipe, 17. I

Referring to Figure 2, the wall 18 provides in conjunction with the casings 5, 5 a closed chamber 19 as shown. The casing 5' has a series of vertically aligned openings 20 on ill each face thereof. A gate 21 is provided on each side of the casing 5 and is intended to be moved thereover by means of the hand wheel structure 22 to control these openings. This structure is described in detail in my copending application, Serial No. 154,697 filed December 14, 1926.

Supported on top of the retort by means of the ring 23 is a hopper 24. Encircling the opening at the bottom of the hopperis a ring 25 which forms a seat for the valve 25. This ring 25 is made of steel'or othersuitable material, and is provided with a sharpedged seat which cooperates with the valve 25 to crush out any material which may-get therebetween. The valve 25 is mounted :on the vertically slideable shaft 26, which is connected to thepiston 33 to slide in the cylinder 32. A ring 30 supports the hopper 29 on top of the hopper 24. A valve 30 cooperates with the steel ring 23 to control the opening at the-bottom of the hopper 29. The valve 30 is mounted on the hollow shaft 31, which is connected to the piston 28, which operates in the cylinder 27. It will be noted that the rod 26 operates through thehollow shaft 31 and piston 28. The pistons are supported by means of the angle beams 34' and 34. Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the method of mounting hoppers and cylinders is shown in more detail. The whole structure is supported by I-beams 35, which support the angle uprights 36,37 and 34. The construction of the hoppers 24and29 and thevalves therein are clearly shown as well as the steel 'rings25, which form seats for the valves. It will be noted that the valves are provided with raised projections, such as 30, the surfaces of which are roughened so that should any material get between the valve and the seat, it will roll out therefrom or be quickly erushed, so that the valve can easily seat. The two cylinders 27 and 32 are supported in the framework and have the usual packing glands 40 at each end thereof. 7

Referring to Figure 4, the method of pass ing the shaft 26 through the hollow shaft 31 is clearly shown. A packing gland 41 is provided so that no fluid pressure may leak through the hollow shaft 31 past its sliding jointwith the rod 26.

The operation of this device is readily apparent from the foregoing description.

I However, it may be said that fuel is supplied to the upper open hopper 29. WVhenit is desired to feed fuel tothe retortfiuid pressure is admitted'below piston 33'to cause the valve 25] to seat. Fluid pressure can 'thenbe supplied to the upper face of piston 28, to cause the valve 30 to open. The fuel will then flow from the upper hopper 29 intothe lower hopper through the action of gravity. The

valve 30 canthen be seated by opening the upper portion of the cylinder 27 to'ex'haust force it more compactly within the retort.

The pistons areconstructed of sufficient size, so that this action may readily occur, as well as providing sulfi'c'ient force to cause the valves to close and crush any material between them and theirseats. It willbe noted that during these operations the retort proper is substantially closed, so'that practically no air is admitted'thereto. The connection of the pipes to the cylinders-has not been shown for the sake of clearness, since 'it is at once evident to those skilled in the art how to supply the fluid pre'ssuretothe cylinders to secure their operations. I have disclosed one method of doing this automatically in my copending application's.,citedfjabove. I do not desire, however, to be'limited to any particular method of operating the pistons in thispar'tic'ula'r application. f

I have described with considerable detail one physical embodiment'of the principles'of my invention for the purpose of illustrating it, but 'I do not desire to be. restricted to the particular forms'ill'ustrated, but rather to the scope of my'invention, which I have defined inthe subjoined'claims- V I am aware that many changes in the details of construction and relative arrangement of parts will'r'e'adily occur tothose skilled in the art. r I

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is':

1. In a retort feeding device the combination with a retort of double hoppers having valves therein, pistons and cylinders for operating the valves said cylinders being arranged in vertical alignment, a'hollow piston rod connecting'one of said valves to one of the pistons and a solid connecting rod connecting another of said valves with anotherpiston said valves "r15 ders supported one above the other each h'a'ving a piston therein, the piston in the lowest cylinder being connectedto the lowest valve by a hollow piston rod and "having a hole therethrough, anda rodconnec'ting thepiston in the cylinder above with the valve above, said pistons being positively actuated to operate the valves independently in either direction and adapted on raising the Valves to cause them to seat with sufficient force to crush any material between them and the Valve seats.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 11th day of December A. D.,

RICHARD B. PARKER. 

